Open Accessl(3)malignant brain tumor and Three Novel Genes Are Required for Drosophila Germ-Cell Formation
Author(s) -
Christopher B. Yohn,
Leslie Terese Pusateri,
Vítor Barbosa,
Ruth Lehmann
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.792
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1943-2631
pISSN - 0016-6731
DOI - 10.1093/genetics/165.4.1889
Subject(s) - biology , germ cell , oskar , germ plasm , mitosis , genetics , gene , germ line development , mutation , mutant , cell division , germ cell tumors , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , embryo , chemotherapy
To identify genes involved in the process of germ-cell formation in Drosophila, a maternal-effect screen using the FLP/FRT-ovoD method was performed on chromosome 3R. In addition to expected mutations in the germ-cell determinant oskar and in other genes known to be involved in the process, several novel mutations caused defects in germ-cell formation. Mutations in any of three genes [l(3)malignant brain tumor, shackleton, and out of sync] affect the synchronous mitotic divisions and nuclear migration of the early embryo. The defects in nuclear migration or mitotic synchrony result in a reduction in germ-cell formation. Mutations in another gene identified in this screen, bebra, do not cause mitotic defects, but appear to act upstream of the localization of oskar. Analysis of our mutants demonstrates that two unique and independent processes must occur to form germ cells-germ-plasm formation and nuclear division/migration.